Do you think Enda Kenny is doing a good job?

wretcheddomain

Note that the thread title doesn't say 'perfect job' because no such leader can do a perfect job no matter what set of cards they have to play with.

Personally, if you see past the selfish fog of negativity promulgated from the masses (who would complain about Kenny even if he were leading a boom), then you can clearly see that Kenny is doing a respectfully good job.

This doesn't mean I agree with every decision that has been made - as we can all list many things that were dealt with inappropriately or flat out wrong.

But, on balance, I think history will be kind to Mr. Kenny.

...and now every forthcoming post will descend us back into that thick fog of negativity.

whupdedo

wretcheddomain wrote: »

Note that the thread title doesn't say 'perfect job' because no such leader can do a perfect job no matter what set of cards they have to play with.

Personally, if you see past the selfish fog of negativity promulgated from the masses (who would complain about Kenny even if he were leading a boom), then you can clearly see that Kenny is doing a respectfully good job.

This doesn't mean I agree with every decision that has been made - as we can all list many things that were dealt with inappropriately or flat out wrong.

But, on balance, I think history will be kind to Mr. Kenny.

...and now every forthcoming post will descend us back into that thick fog of negativity.

Yes

Evelyn Cusack

Completely agree with you chief. So would the silent majority.

You don't see nearly as much negativity in the real world as you do from all the little internet weirdos

irishfeen

IMO History will look at the current administration/Taoiseach in a very very good light ... Might be the best Taoiseach since Lemass - (and that's coming from a person who has the love of Fianna Fail running through his veins )

I think Fine Gael will run away with the next election, possibly going very close to a single party government.

wretcheddomain

Evelyn Cusack wrote: »

Completely agree with you chief. So would the silent majority.

You don't see nearly as much negativity in the real world as you do from all the little internet weirdos

Thanks Evelyn - we can always count on you to let us know what's beyond the fog.

By the way, are you launching another attack against pseudopostmen after the 9 o'clock news?

Evelyn Cusack

wretcheddomain wrote: »

Thanks Evelyn - we can always count on you to let us know what's beyond the fog.

By the way, are you launching another attack against pseudopostmen after the 9 o'clock news?

If I hear anymore from that twerp I'll wrap my legs around his head and suffocate him in my crotch

Zamboni

Christ no!
The govt have achieved almost nothing and perpetuated the ff fvck up.
Business as usual as far as I can see.

wretcheddomain

Zamboni wrote: »

Business as usual as far as I can see.

You haven't seen through the fog yet.

diomed

He is doing the job, which is light years ahead of the other crowd's performance.

irishfeen

Zamboni wrote: »

Christ no!
The govt have achieved almost nothing and perpetuated the ff fvck up.
Business as usual as far as I can see.

But how can you say that? ... unemployment is down, jobs are being created, we are ranked the best country to do business in the world, he officially apologized to the survivors of the Magdalene laundries, they pardoned the WW2 veterans, legislated for the X case, restored our international reputation, will take the country out of the bailout without the need for an overdraft ..... etc.

They have almost done more in their couple of years in power then FF did in 14, people are not stupid - it was never going to be all fun and games. Most people I do believe think the have done as well as they can. We were a complete basket case in the eyes of the world when they took power, now most are standing back applauding what has been achieved.

The Backwards Man

He's doing a hell of a lot better than any of the other gomies from the other parties would if they were in charge.

Yellow121

The truth is he's done very little! The majority of decisions were made for this government by outsiders and from the little bit of juggling that FG could oversee, they decided to hit low and middle income citizens the hardest. It's far from a good job he's doing.

irishfeen

Yellow121 wrote: »

The truth is he's done very little! The majority of decisions were made for this government by outsiders and from the little bit of juggling that FG could oversee, they decided to hit low and middle income citizens the hardest. It's far from a good job he's doing.

So who would you replace Kenny with? ... Adams/Sinn Fein? ... see them run the country into the ground taxing the hole off anyone who tries creating jobs and earns a good wage?

diomed

I think some people expected him to press the reset button on the debt and the recession, and it would be all butterflies and lollipops again.

Yellow121

irishfeen wrote: »

So who would you replace Kenny with? ... Adams/Sinn Fein? ... see them run the country into the ground taxing the hole off anyone who tries creating jobs and earns a good wage?

The question was not who you'd replace him with but what is your opinion of the job Enda Kenny is doing. Everyone else in the Dáil are irrelevent to this question.

irishfeen

diomed wrote: »

I think some people expected him to press the reset button on the debt and the recession, and it would be all butterflies and lollipops again.

Yeah the way people are talking you would think he was given an economy on a silver platter akin to Ahern in 1997.

irishfeen

Yellow121 wrote: »

The question was not who you'd replace him with but what is your opinion of the job Enda Kenny is doing. Everyone else in the Dáil are irrelevent to this question.

But if you think Kenny is doing a bad job then what/who could do better? .. what do you think he is doing wrong btw?

darkoo

Evelyn Cusack wrote: »

Completely agree with you chief. So would the silent majority.

You don't see nearly as much negativity in the real world as you do from all the little internet weirdos

Does this mean yourself.

Conmaicne Mara

Ask me next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Karl Stein

He's done a great job of following orders.

Btw, lest our Fine Gael-bots explode with misplaced smugness, we should remind them that their party was offering a turbo-charged version of the celtic pyramid FF were presiding over so things may well have been worse had they got their way.

wretcheddomain

Carlos Roca wrote: »

He's done a great job of following orders.

Btw, lest our Fine Gael-bots explode with misplaced smugness, we should remind them that their party was offering a turbo-charged version of the celtic pyramid FF were presiding over so things may well have been worse had they got their way.

The past affirmations are irrelevant to the question of this thread today.

If not following these 'orders' would have landed us in a worse position (i.e. The Sinn Feinian position) then Kenny made the right decision either way. In this sense, you are admitting 'Yes' to the poll.

efb

Yes. Happy enough 8/10

irishfeen

Carlos Roca wrote: »

Btw, lest our Fine Gael-bots explode with misplaced smugness, we should remind them that their party was offering a turbo-charged version of the celtic pyramid FF were presiding over so things may well have been worse had they got their way.

Your probably right but look they weren't in power so you cannot say it for certain - FF will always be tainted for giving away our economic sovereignty.

Karl Stein

wretcheddomain wrote: »

The past affirmations are irrelevant to the question of this thread today.

Lol, what? Past affirmations have everything to do with the question of this thread.

If not following these 'orders' would have landed us in a worse position (i.e. The Sinn Feinian position) then Kenny made the right decision either way. In this sense, you are admitting 'Yes' to the poll.

You forgot to add the 'Atari-sock-puppet-would-do-just-as-good-a-job' option.

Look, I have nothing against what's-his-name personally - he's an unremarkable apparatchik.

road_high

diomed wrote: »

He is doing the job, which is light years ahead of the other crowd's performance.

Remember back to when idiot Cowen was Taoiseach. Drunk on radio and then he to bring the IMF in. Kenny is trustworthy and has forged a very good relationship with all other EU/World leaders. It's mainly die in the wool FF'ers and extreme lefties (who are never happy anyhow) that attack Kenny ad-nauseum.
The mood of the country has defo lifted the past few years under his helm and his government. Honestly think he is one of the best Taoisigh in a long long time.

road_high

irishfeen wrote: »

Your probably right but look they weren't in power so you cannot say it for certain - FF will always be tainted for giving away our economic sovereignty.

Here's hoping they are because it's what they deserve.

irishfeen

road_high wrote: »

Here's hoping they are because it's what they deserve.

Here here! ... but you know as well as I do that Fianna Fail are by far the most powerful political organisation on the ground across rural Ireland in particular... I hear even from the old folks and aunts/uncles that "it was the banks fault" ... :rolleyes: ... I argue but there is no changing a FF family

KyussBishop

irishfeen wrote: »

But how can you say that? ... unemployment is down, jobs are being created, we are ranked the best country to do business in the world, he officially apologized to the survivors of the Magdalene laundries, they pardoned the WW2 veterans, legislated for the X case, restored our international reputation, will take the country out of the bailout without the need for an overdraft ..... etc.

They have almost done more in their couple of years in power then FF did in 14, people are not stupid - it was never going to be all fun and games. Most people I do believe think the have done as well as they can. We were a complete basket case in the eyes of the world when they took power, now most are standing back applauding what has been achieved.

As far as I can see, apart from the usual cheering that recovery is perpetually 'just around the corner', we're just as screwed economically as we were before, and are only waiting for the next stage of the crisis (that of unsustainable private debt catching up with us).

Not saying it for the sake of being negative, it's just that we could be doing so much better than we are now, and being optimistic about our current lot prevents people from seeing this and pushing for it.
I'm very optimistic about how much better we could be doing, just not so optimistic we have the right politicians for doing it.

No matter what Enda does, he's always going to come out looking better compared to the last lot that were in government - but he's not doing a particularly good job.
If he pushed more for proper recovery policies in Europe, he'd be doing a better job, and if he took initiative here to promote a return to full employment using available policies (without any EU help - probably pissing off the Troika due to the policies needed, which would take courage), he certainly would be remembered as one of the greater leaders in the countries history - right now though, no sign of that.

Zamboni

We still owe a fortune. They bottled it when negotiating with the bloated public service.
Minuscule repossessions. Massive unemployment.
I'm not blaming FG. But they have done sweet FA.

And now they are selling state assets sooner than burning investors in banks or negotiating with unions.
Cowards.

They are all scum to be fair.

road_high

irishfeen wrote: »

Here here! ... but you know as well as I do that Fianna Fail are by far the most powerful political organisation on the ground across rural Ireland in particular... I hear even from the old folks and aunts/uncles that "it was the banks fault" ... :rolleyes: ... I argue but there is no changing a FF family

I don't think they are any more. Their local structure across Ireland is actually pretty weak. There were many ordianry decent FF people that were none too happy with the centralisation of power to the Bertie mafia.

In Dublin in particular FF are non-existant in parts. No.4 party there.

P.S. I really hope they don't re-build or anything, we don't need anymore Cowens (still one on the dail) or Coughlans

DeanAustin

Zamboni wrote: »

We still owe a fortune. They bottled it when negotiating with the bloated public service.
Minuscule repossessions. Massive unemployment.
I'm not blaming FG. But they have done sweet FA.

And now they are selling state assets sooner than burning investors in banks or negotiating with unions.
Cowards.

They are all scum to be fair.

Can understand people making an argument against Kenny but calling him scum is breathtakingly stupid and undermines anything you posted before that.

One word I would never associate with Kenny is scum.

Phoebas

I can't believe nobody has posted a 20 year old quote of Kenny's about property tax yet (the whingers aren't here yet).

Anyway, he clearly is doing a reasonably decent job. He's not the most exciting leader we ever had; a capable administrator rather then a charismatic character - exactly what we need right now.

Barring catastrophe, he's a shoe-in for another term, if he wants one.

Mint Sauce

Considering the ****e he was left with, and that, that continues to surface, he's doing an okay job.

road_high

I know it's slow progress and all but the drop in unemployment figures (and more importanly increased employment figures) have increased his credibility enormously. Perception is everything in politics and Kenny is generally percieved as honest, hard-working and a steady leader.

Red Nissan

It's like this, Fianna Fail run deals and schemes and to hide it they give lavish presents to all concerned and generous allowances to social welfare, thus avoiding the 'revolution' reaction to corruption.

This breaks the country, this is the third or fourth time this has happened.

Fine Gael step and impose draconian fiscal policies that ultimately destroys the country but does succeed in making the books balance, even if that means people die or emigrate.

This breaks the country as we must look at large borrowings and import workers to kick start a recovery.

Fianna Fail, who are now again making noises seize on this and recapture power and proceed to give us all a handout and borrows many times our GDP and embarks on lavish public white elephants and we all think they are great ~ we are about to enter this stage again ~

Kenny has only plugged a hole in a dyke sort of metaphor, oh look there is no leak now, aren't I great!

TOMP

Make no mistake, Enda's speech to the country next weekend is the first salvo in the next election campaign. I expect Enda to offer a sweetener either this year or next year, such as restoring the social welfare christmas bonus.

Phoebas

TOMP wrote: »

Make no mistake, Enda's speech to the country next weekend is the first salvo in the next election campaign. I expect Enda to offer a sweetener either this year or next year, such as restoring the social welfare christmas bonus.

If we're doing so well that that idea flies then he deserves to win the next election.

road_high

TOMP wrote: »

Make no mistake, Enda's speech to the country next weekend is the first salvo in the next election campaign. I expect Enda to offer a sweetener either this year or next year, such as restoring the social welfare christmas bonus.

Really hope not. It's people who are working hard and contributely through huge taxation that need a break. Welfare needs to be curtailed further and real work incentivised.
Agree the speech will do him no harm and one in the eye to FF (I've no doubt they'll be mentioned and rightly blamed in a round-about way).

DanWall

He is not taking care of the corruption and scandals, Every day there is something highlighting the corruption, his golden circle still survives, he is as bad as the rest.

Phoebas

DanWall wrote: »

He is not taking care of the corruption and scandals, Every day there is something highlighting the corruption, his golden circle still survives, he is as bad as the rest.

As bad as the rest of who?
(is this just a bland 'all politicians are the same' rant)?

irishfeen

road_high wrote: »

I don't think they are any more. Their local structure across Ireland is actually pretty weak. There were many ordianry decent FF people that were none too happy with the centralisation of power to the Bertie mafia.

In Dublin in particular FF are non-existant in parts. No.4 party there.

P.S. I really hope they don't re-build or anything, we don't need anymore Cowens (still one on the dail) or Coughlans

In rural Ireland they are probably still the number one party - most moderate FF voters didn't bother voting for anyone in protest at FF... don't worry they will be returning with vengeance in the next election. Imo Fine Gael will walk away and go very close to a single party government and Fianna Fail will return as the second largest party polling at about 23-25%.

Sinn Fein are just totally fcuking themselves over - its like they just visit the local playschool and ask the toddlers for economic advice and go with it... if they actually produced realistic proposals and not just going for the protest vote (getting rid of Water charge etc.) they they could make hay... Adams is also a total liability, they will never enter government in the south with him at the helm.

My name is URL

I don't like him as a person or as a public figure. He lacks charisma, gumption, wit and often appears to lack basic intelligence (tripping up over flower pots and crying assault, making racist jokes and then begging journos not to repeat it). He also fails miserably at debating issues.. not just on TV and other media; but in the Dáil itself.. always deflecting criticism, making light of others concerns and so on.

That all said, I don't think he's doing a terrible job as Taoiseach. At least not compared to the goons that preceded him. I think FG (barring a couple of Depts.) are generally doing an alright job, moreso than Kenny is as leader. There's at least half a dozen ministers that would be better suited as party leader. It's a small miracle that Kenny is still there as it is. Even many FG'ers dislike him as leader of the party... but that's politics.

NuckingFacker

"Good" as in what exactly? Good as in carrying on the same policies initiated by FF? Good as in not reforming the Public sector instead just slashing front line services? Good as in being a beller and paying our money to a bunch of busted gamblers? Good as in slashing red tape and driving job creation with radical Business-friendly policies? Or Good in that he has taxed the backside out of the country and done sweet f.a else? Good me hole.

Fr. Ned

Kenny's constant use of 'Jean McConville/you were in the IRA' in response to any questions raised by Gerry Adams or SF is disgraceful.

The other day Adams asked him about the 'top up' scandal and the reply was along the lines of 'Were you in the IRA?, you were in the IRA, weren't you?.

I think that shows Enda's limitations up fully, unless he has a scripted answer to read, he flounders around and is totally out of his depth.

Red Nissan

Fr. Ned wrote: »

, he flounders around and is totally out of his depth.

He is a school teacher too, isn't he?

irishfeen

Fr. Ned wrote: »

I think that shows Enda's limitations up fully, unless he has a scripted answer to read, he flounders around and is totally out of his depth.

We witnessed almost 14 years of the Ahern's wittiness, smart remarks off the cuff, jokes and cute hoor-ism and just look how that turned out ... his quiet, relaxed demeanor is something for which I actually respect. A showman doesn't make you a good leader, a good leader manages a team of people to do their job the best they can ...

Red Nissan

irishfeen wrote: »

We witnessed almost 14 years of the Ahern's wittiness, smart remarks off the cuff, jokes and cute hoor-ism and just look how that turned out ... his quiet, relaxed demeanor is something for which I actually respect. A showman doesn't make you a good leader...

Well the Ahern era is clouded in innuendo, suspicion, corruption and so on and on endlessly, hardly fitting to compare to Enda, now is it.

Let Enda speak for himself, I think he'd thank you to not to associate his name with the previous incumbent, tbh.

irishfeen

Red Nissan wrote: »

Let Enda speak for himself, I think he'd thank you to not to associate his name with the previous incumbent, tbh.

I was just defending Enda from a poster who said "unless he has a scripted answer to read, he flounders around and is totally out of his depth" .. Ahern was a showman who could sell sand on a beach - Kenny is not, he is a different type of leader who seems to prefer a steady ship and doesn't like surprises, I like that about him.

zenno

No. They're all the same bunch of corrupt bastards.

wretcheddomain

zenno wrote: »

No. They're all the same bunch of corrupt bastards.

That's why you'll be voting for the cleanest party of them all, Sinn Féin. :rolleyes:

Hello_MrFox

Off topic but say Enda wants to go shopping or for a stroll around the an Irish city, does he have bodyguards with him?